West African Nations Launch New Development Initiatives

Senegal's Delegation General for Rapid Entrepreneurship of Women and Youth (DER/FJ) appointed Abdoulaye Niane as its new head on 17 July 2026. Niane, a seasoned academic and banking professional, pledged to strengthen financial resource mobilisation and forge new partnerships with banks to expand credit access for women and young entrepreneurs. Over the past two years the agency distributed more than 107,000 loans and supported over 300,000 beneficiaries across the country.

In Côte d’Ivoire, the government inaugurated the new premises of the Grand‑Morié sub‑prefecture in the Agboville department on 16 July 2026. The ceremony, attended by the Minister of Sports Adjé Silas Metch and other senior officials, highlighted the project's role in bringing public administration closer to local populations and advancing regional development.

Benin’s National Agency of Standardisation, Metrology and Quality (ANM) sent its Director General, Mouhamed Nazif Moutawakilou, to the third Halal Expo West Africa in Abidjan from 16‑18 July 2026. The expo, supported by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, serves as a regional hub for the halal economy, promoting certification standards and fostering trade partnerships across the West African market.